Savage Popcorn

Orson Scott Card has published a blistering article in the Rhino Times (via) which takes apart JK Rowling’s legal claims against Steven Vander Ark and the Harry Potter Lexicon.

Card points out that authors use each others ideas all the time and, while the Lexicon may not be scholarly, it certainly falls within the realm of scholarly comment. He also hits the nail on the head in pointing out that Rowling has let herself be talked into being outraged over a perfectly normal publishing activity, one that she had actually made use of herself during its web incarnation and now.

Her case will probably fail – it certainly deserves to – and once the dust has settled Rowling is likely to discover that she has irretrievably damaged both her reputation and her career. And all for the sake of some small book that wouldn’t have had even the most minor impact on her income.

Update

JK Rowling could learn something about artistic professionalism from Sylvester Stallone who said (via) of Son of Rambow: “The fact that it was so heartwarming is the result of brilliant filmmaking by its creators.”

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